Denis Colwell

Head & Associate Professor, School of Music

Bio

Denis Colwell served as Assistant Head of the School of Music from 1988 to 1995. Colwell's first CD recording with the Wind Ensemble was hailed as '...one of the best band recordings in recent years...' by the American Recording Guide (March/April 1996).

He has completed the production of a second CD with the ensemble. Colwell is also the conductor and music director of the River City Brass Band.

He joined the ensemble in 1982 as a cornetist, and was subsequently promoted to Assistant Principal Solo Cornet. In 1991, he was named Associate Conductor by founder Robert Bernat. Colwell assumed all conducting duties in May 1994, and the responsibilities of music director were added six months later.

A Pittsburgh native, Colwell studied trumpet both as an undergraduate and as a graduate student with Carnegie Mellon's renowned Anthony Pasquarelli. Colwell was a founder of the Carnegie Mellon Youth Brass Band and the River City Youth Brass Band, and has served as conductor of both ensembles.